Essay Question on the extract from ’An Encounter’ and one other story
In this extract from ‘An Encounter’ James Joyce marks a growing sense of weariness from the boy in the direction of the old man, as the passage progresses, the boy’s attitude changes from one of naivety to one of marked suspicion and doubt at the old man’s motives for being there. However, due to his innocence and relatively inexperienced life skills, the boy seems to struggle to grasp what other reason the man would have for being there.
One example which highlights this point is when the old man queries how often the boys get whipped at school, but despite this question being asked, the boy decides to ‘remain silent’. This response of silence from the boy indicates that there is indeed an element of doubt and confusion inside his head as to why the man wants to know these questions – but instead of perhaps retorting in disgust or walking away as an older person would probably have done, the boy remains where he is, and the conversation continues.
Joyce’s description of the boy as ‘Magnetised’ by the old man is interesting; this suggests that the boy is enjoying the idea of listening to this old man who has encountered a lot in his long life, and that at that present point in the extract, the boy does not see the behaviour of the man threatening or in any way unnerving. The boy actually wants the man to stay and talk to him because he is intrigued about what he may have to say – adding to the little boy’s ‘adventure’.
In contrast to the previous example, the metaphor ‘seemed to circle slowly’ creates an air of tension and apprehension for the reader, inferring that the boy is also starting to become anxious as the man probes further and further. The boy is perhaps beginning to pierce the façade that the old man is trying to put up to throw the boys off the scent from what his real purpose is.